It's all about the written word...
Celebrating three years in publication. Thank you for visiting often!
It's a big trend in pens these days--demonstrator pens, that is. It seems that most companies worth their salt are introducing these translucent lovelies in some fashion or another. As an example, there are new colors in the Artista Crystal line of demonstrator-style pens from Monteverde. Made from acrylic and hand polished inside and out, with shiny chrome accents, the collection is available as a fountain pen with a steel nib and a cartridge/converter filling system, a rollerball and a ballpoint. Spring colors include clear, pink, lime green and turquoise. They range in price from $35 to $45. An interesting note: the ink feed on the fountain pen is clear.
Delta's new Pompei Limited Edition recalls some of the characteristics of the first Pompei collection, produced from "Pompeian Red" celluloid and introduced in 1996. This new edition is made from a yellow-colored celluloid, another hue seen on the walls of this ancient city, and is available as a fountain pen, rollerball or ballpoint. While the earlier model features a lateral filling system, this recently introduced limited edition fountain pen is available with a piston filling ($1,195) or cartridge/converter system ($795); it has a 14-karat gold nib. The rollerball pen is priced at $595, the ballpoint at $495.
The Delta Peace Pen, crafted from solid gold, enamel and 105 diamonds, was recently presented to Pope Benedict XVI. The Unione for Christian Onlus (UPC) commissioned Delta to produce this one-of-a-kind pen designed by Ciro Matrone, one of Delta's partners. The pen is embellished with the word "peace" written in various languages. It was presented to the Pope in a white lambskin and gold box designed by another Delta partner, Luigi Muscente. Due to the level of interest in this project, Delta has decided to custom manufacture this pen in sterling silver and enamel for anyone interested in owning this bit of history.
Monteverde is adding yet another version of its popular One-Touch writing instrument, the combo ballpoint/stylus it introduced earlier this year. The soft-point stylus may be used on your iPad or iPhone or any other type of touch screen. This retractable pen currently comes in a variety of colors, and early next year Monteverde will be introducing a camouflage style. No one ever saw it coming...
The Capri Night & Day collection from Delta welcomes two new versions: the Capri Night and Capri Day. The former offers a combination of ivory resin with a natural turquoise stone in the cap crown. Capri Day offers a combination of dark blue resin with a natural coral button on the cap crown. The pens are made of resin, and each is offered as a fountain pen, rollerball or ballpoint. The fountain pen is priced at $250.
The DC Pen Show, held last weekend, was lots of fun. Many pen manufacturers and distributors were in attendance, including David Oscarson, Yair Greenberg of Yafa, Jerry Yeh of Laban, Joel Blumberg of Kenro Industries, Mark Cole of Visconti, Jin Takemura of Sailor, Mary Burke of Conway Stewart, Scott Franklin of Franklin-Christoph, Brian Gray of the Edison Pen Company and more--including the amazing and ever gracious Joe Cali. Two pen manufacturers from Europe--first time visitors to the show--were there, and I think they had a good experience: Luca Viti of Stipula (now distributed by Yafa) and Carlo and Samuel Naldi of Edelberg. Welcome!
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| Luca Viti of Stipula |
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Samuel Naldi of Edelberg
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Delta's new Pompei Limited Edition recalls some of the characteristics of the first Pompei collection, produced from "Pompeian Red" celluloid and introduced in 1996. This new edition is made from a yellow-colored celluloid, another hue seen on the walls of this ancient city, and is available as a fountain pen, rollerball or ballpoint. While the earlier model features a lateral filling system, this recently introduced limited edition fountain pen is available with a piston filling ($1,195) or cartridge/converter system ($795); it has a 14-karat gold nib. The rollerball pen is priced at $595, the ballpoint at $495.
